Liverpool FC Forum

[Bermenstein]

With the window open for the brief period of January, hopefully L'pool will bring in some quality.

Hopefully Hicks & Gillet can back the manager in the quest for the Premiership, because we need to start investing in quality long term assignments.

The following Article by Jamie Kenwar, is taken from Liverpool-Koptalk.com

A dispiriting policy of buying cut-price, inferior creative players is the principal reason Liverpool have not won the league title for 17 years.

An examination of Liverpool’s ‘creative’ signings since Kenny Dalglish left reveals a disturbing tendency to buy cheap, substandard squad-fillers. This is indicative of the decline of the club’s attacking philosophy, and until this changes, Liverpool will not win the league.

In the 70s and 80s, one thing remained constant in Liverpool's unparallelled success: Top class creative players and fearless attacking philosophy. When Ian Rush left in 1987, Kenny Dalglish didn't waste money on dross - he went out and bought the best creative players within Liverpool's budget: John Barnes, Peter Beardsley, Ray Houghton and John Aldridge.

It’s a sad thing to acknowledge, but since Kenny Dalglish left in 1991, the attacking philosophy of the club has slowly been eroded and replaced with an increasingly defensive-minded approach.

This was painfully apparent again in the recent home defeat to Man Ure, where Liverpool’s woeful attacking play was exposed again as the team failed to create a single goal-scoring chance.

It's a trite observation, but League titles are won by the SCORING AND CREATING OF GOALS. Defensive stability is obviously important, but goals win games, and without the quality to consistently break down stubborn defences and create/score goals, it is impossible to win the league.

The plain fact is this: Every Liverpool Manager since Dalglish has squandering MILLIONS on mediocre creative players. For far too long now, there has been a maddening unwillingness at the club to spend big money on top class attacking wingers and link men.

The huge list of pedestrian 'creative' signings over the last 17 years reveals the following:

1. Too many low grade creative players bought on the cheap.
2. An unwillingness to invest in proven creative talent.
3. A preference for young, unproven creative talent, most of whom inevitably fail.
4. A preference for tireless workhorses who run all day but are short on craft and guile.
5. Misuse of genuinely creative players who could have made a difference.

Below is a list of so called ‘creative’ players bought over the last 17 years.

Sean Dundee (1.8m)
Nigel Clough (2.2m)
Erik Meijer (Free)
Karl-Heinz Riedle (1.8m)
Dean Saunders (2.9m)
Paul Stewart (2.3m)
Mark Walters (1.2m)
Oyvind Leonhardsen (3.5m)
Michael Thomas (1.5m)
Titi Camara (2.6m)
Danny Murphy (1.5m)
Hakur Ingi Gudnasen (150k)
Mark Kennedy (1.5m)

23m (approx)

Since 2000

Emile Heskey (11m)
Vladirmir Smicer (3.7m)
Bolo Zenden (Free)
Bernard Diomede (3m)
Salif Diao (4.7m)
Antonio Nunez (1.5m)
Bruno Cheyrou (3.7m)
Florent Sinama Pongolle (3m)
Anthony Le Tallec (3m)
Craig Bellamy (6m)
El Hadji Diouf (10m)
Mark Gonzales (1.5m)
Fernando Morientes (6.3m)
Harry Kewell(5m)
Jermaine Pennant (6.7m)
Dirk Kuyt (9m)
Andriy Voronin
78m (approx)

In my view, none of the above were/are good enough to be first team regulars for Liverpool. Many of them were not even good enough to be mere squad players. The club needed to invest in proven creative talent, not squad-filling journeymen.

Players like Danny Murphy and Craig Bellamy may have had their moments but when it comes to creating a team capable of winning the league, such players are far below the creative level needed to consistently mount a league challenge.

It’s even more depressing if you contrast the players above with the club’s purchases in the 70s and 80s, or the creative players bought by Arsenal, Chelsea and Man United over the same time period.

The list above represents over 100m of money wasted, with Gerard Houllier and Rafael Benitez the biggest culprits, wasting almost 80m on cut-price dross.

Just imagine if Liverpool had Managers who were truly focused on attacking football, and went out and bought smartly - choosing the best attacking players they could find for the budget.

It’s no secret that Gerard Houllier turned down the chance to sign Cristiano Ronaldo and Rivaldo amongst others. Who knows how many other great creative players were turned away in favour of dross creatively inept players like Emile Heskey and Bruno Cheyrou?

Houllier’s aversion to creativity can also be found in Rafael Benitez, who has wasted millions on creative players who were just not good enough or just didn’t perform.

Roy Evans made his fair share of mistakes (Sean Dundee anyone?) but, in his defence, Evans’ teams were a joy to watch, and played the best attacking football in the country during the mid 90s.

Liverpool under Evans had superb attacking players like Steve McManaman and Robbie Fowler mixed in with the brilliance and experience of Ian Rush and John Barnes. Defensive frailty was the team’s problem, something Houllier and Benitez fixed at the expense of Liverpool’s attacking play.

Examining Liverpool’s purchases since 1990 reveals one particularly depressing fact: The club has, in my view, bought only 7 worthy, effective creative players in 17 years:

90s
Patrik Berger (3.2m)
Stan Collymore (8.5m)

00s
Luis Garcia (6m)
Milan Baros (3.2m)
Fernando Torres (20m)
Ryan Babel (9m)
Peter Crouch (7m)

Two other notable players who could have made a difference were Jari Litmanen and Nicolas Anelka, both of whom were brought in for free. Both were fantastic acquisitions with bags of quality, superb technique and real ‘Liverpool type class’.

Of course, they were scandalously wasted by Houllier, who preferred the technically inept likes of Emile Heskey. Milan Baros was another exceptional player who had the creativity choked out of him by Houllier and later Benitez, who persisted in playing him as a lone striker.

Rafa has at least brought in Fernando Torres, but El Nino alone is not enough. Liverpool need 3 or 4 creative players of similar quality if they are going to seriously challenge for the premiership.

Ryan Babel is also another step in the right direction, but what’s the point of buying him if he’s going to rot on the bench whilst the creatively bakrupt Dirk Kuyt starts game after game?

Liverpool are lucky to have been blessed over the years with homegrown creative talent like McManaman, Fowler, Owen and Steven Gerrard; take them away and the last 17 years looks even bleaker.

And where are the homegrown creative stars of the future?! There are none, because Houllier and Benitez have invested in cheap rubbish instead of developing homegrown talent.

Liverpool need a complete change of philosophy and emphasis; attacking football and creativity needs to be the priority, and the club needs to go out and buy the best creative players within the budget AND start PROPERLY developing academy players who show creative potential.

Spending 17m on Javier Mascherano - another defensive minded player - is ridiculous, and is yet more evidence of why Rafael Benitez may not be the man to drive through the necessary change.

Ultimately, it's simple: If the transfer ineptitude of the last 17 years continues, and Liverpool persist in buying cheap creative players, the Premiership will remain out of reach.

[LittleHobo]

a fair assessment

in those years we have at a few times had a top class defence, also at other times we have had a top class forward line (owen or fowler ) its just at no time have we had the total package

the current batch of wingers in my view is good enough for portsmouth or newcastle maybe but certainly not good enough for a title challenge

we had a creative mastermind in the houllier era but he was criminally underused........jari litmanen

i pray rafa finds the new jari litmanen and brings him in asap.

[puroresu]

For all the faults under roy evans I agree that side was great to watch.  Entertaining, full of creativity, flair and pace.  Thats the way we should be playing.

[LittleHobo]

For all the faults under roy evans I agree that side was great to watch.  Entertaining, full of creativity, flair and pace.  Thats the way we should be playing.

thats true

and also back then we could up our game against the best teams and beat them whilst playing really well

our downfall was against the craap teams, were we would often underachieve

[NANNY RED]

For all the faults under roy evans I agree that side was great to watch.  Entertaining, full of creativity, flair and pace.  Thats the way we should be playing.

thats true

and also back then we could up our game against the best teams and beat them whilst playing really well

our downfall was against the craap teams, were we would often underachieve

But we never won anything . Its great to have a flair team with flair pace and yes creativity but if your not winning trophys what good is it .
Remember Newcastle under Keegan so much creativity and pace and flair but what did they win

The old Spurs side with Hoddle and Archibald also Ardilless and the West Hams yes good to watch but what what did they achieve Nothin

[holylamb2006]

Oh yes definately average wing - creative men over the years ......

I thought Benayoun started off the season brightly but suddenly switched off and cant get back on track...

Babel still a young one but a bit more lesson needed to show him a bit more moves and be less obvious ....

But i think we need a left winger quickly Kewell not showing his form only leaves riise or Aurelio ....

All in all i dnt think we took a step backwards

[puroresu]

For all the faults under roy evans I agree that side was great to watch.  Entertaining, full of creativity, flair and pace.  Thats the way we should be playing.

thats true

and also back then we could up our game against the best teams and beat them whilst playing really well

our downfall was against the craap teams, were we would often underachieve

But we never won anything . Its great to have a flair team with flair pace and yes creativity but if your not winning trophys what good is it .
Remember Newcastle under Keegan so much creativity and pace and flair but what did they win

The old Spurs side with Hoddle and Archibald also Ardilless and the West Hams yes good to watch but what what did they achieve Nothin

Evans had 4 seasons after taking over a side in crisis under souness.  He didnt win anything but still kept us in a title race longer than houllier or rafa has done.  No players under Houllier or rafa so far can honestly say "that year we should have won the title".  The players under Evans all look back and openly admit they should have won the title and blew it.

[NANNY RED]

For all the faults under roy evans I agree that side was great to watch.  Entertaining, full of creativity, flair and pace.  Thats the way we should be playing.

thats true

and also back then we could up our game against the best teams and beat them whilst playing really well

our downfall was against the craap teams, were we would often underachieve

But we never won anything . Its great to have a flair team with flair pace and yes creativity but if your not winning trophys what good is it .
Remember Newcastle under Keegan so much creativity and pace and flair but what did they win

The old Spurs side with Hoddle and Archibald also Ardilless and the West Hams yes good to watch but what what did they achieve Nothin

Evans had 4 seasons after taking over a side in crisis under souness.  He didnt win anything but still kept us in a title race longer than houllier or rafa has done.

But isnt it about winning things i pay my money to see us lift trophys at the end of the season not to be nearly men

[puroresu]

For all the faults under roy evans I agree that side was great to watch.  Entertaining, full of creativity, flair and pace.  Thats the way we should be playing.

thats true

and also back then we could up our game against the best teams and beat them whilst playing really well

our downfall was against the craap teams, were we would often underachieve

But we never won anything . Its great to have a flair team with flair pace and yes creativity but if your not winning trophys what good is it .
Remember Newcastle under Keegan so much creativity and pace and flair but what did they win

The old Spurs side with Hoddle and Archibald also Ardilless and the West Hams yes good to watch but what what did they achieve Nothin

Evans had 4 seasons after taking over a side in crisis under souness.  He didnt win anything but still kept us in a title race longer than houllier or rafa has done.

But isnt it about winning things i pay my money to see us lift trophys at the end of the season not to be nearly men

yes I agree.  The league is the tropy though.  Evans and houllier couldnt deliver it and were let go.  Its a shame but I also feel rafa wont do the job either.

[NANNY RED]

For all the faults under roy evans I agree that side was great to watch.  Entertaining, full of creativity, flair and pace.  Thats the way we should be playing.

thats true

and also back then we could up our game against the best teams and beat them whilst playing really well

our downfall was against the craap teams, were we would often underachieve

But we never won anything . Its great to have a flair team with flair pace and yes creativity but if your not winning trophys what good is it .
Remember Newcastle under Keegan so much creativity and pace and flair but what did they win

The old Spurs side with Hoddle and Archibald also Ardilless and the West Hams yes good to watch but what what did they achieve Nothin

Evans had 4 seasons after taking over a side in crisis under souness.  He didnt win anything but still kept us in a title race longer than houllier or rafa has done.

But isnt it about winning things i pay my money to see us lift trophys at the end of the season not to be nearly men

yes I agree.  The league is the tropy though.  Evans and houllier couldnt deliver it and were let go.  Its a shame but I also feel rafa wont do the job either.

Rafa will win us the prem if hes still here and the yanks get there check books out

[The_Rock]

I still haven't forgiven houllier for not signing anelka and treating Litmanen like sh1t.....

This eventually proved to be the downfall of houllier as if he had given these players their due....he might still be in a job here... 

Rafa is a better coach than houllier.... So his results should be better (also rafa is earning much more than houllier was earning)...

[LFC2007]

Rafa is a better coach than houllier.... So his results should be better (also rafa is earning much more than houllier was earning)...

You've been in their training sessions, and you've seen their contracts?

[pokster]

In the 70's and the 80's. The liverpool teams of old would by a promising young player, put him in the reserves for one whole season and slowly ease them into the team in the following season. Ian Rush is an example. So why are there so many fans want to put Ryan Babel straight into the first team?

Sure, he has the quality, pace etc. Dirk Kuyt is currently ahead of him at the moment ( to the dismay of most people ). My guess is that Dirk is an experienced player and a full Dutch International thats why he merits a place in the first team. He plays with his heart out, no goals, but he showed lots of passion. There are not many scousers playing for Liverpool at the moment and we need such characters around in the team. It is impossible to have a first team full of Kakas , Ronaldos etc.

I am totally against Dirk Kuyt's bashing by some of the forumers here( No offence to anyone).
I am not a fan of Dirk Kuyt but I would support him like any other fan would, simply because he plays for our team.

[Leonmc0708]

For all the faults under roy evans I agree that side was great to watch.  Entertaining, full of creativity, flair and pace.  Thats the way we should be playing.

thats true

and also back then we could up our game against the best teams and beat them whilst playing really well

our downfall was against the craap teams, were we would often underachieve

But we never won anything . Its great to have a flair team with flair pace and yes creativity but if your not winning trophys what good is it .
Remember Newcastle under Keegan so much creativity and pace and flair but what did they win

The old Spurs side with Hoddle and Archibald also Ardilless and the West Hams yes good to watch but what what did they achieve Nothin

Evans had 4 seasons after taking over a side in crisis under souness.  He didnt win anything but still kept us in a title race longer than houllier or rafa has done.  No players under Houllier or rafa so far can honestly say "that year we should have won the title".  The players under Evans all look back and openly admit they should have won the title and blew it.

Should have won the title.

Won the Champions LEague and FA Cup.

I know which of those two statements I would rather tell my kids about my playing career.

[ivor_the_injun]

When it comes to "creative" players, you have to factor in the likes of Gary McAllister and Alonso too. Even though Alonso doesn't do a million step-overs or try and beat a man, look at his first season and check out some of his passing. You can't look at some of the disguised through balls, delicate lobs or reversed passes and tell me that they weren't the work of a highly creative footballer.